Picture hanger



J. E. ALLEN PICTURE HANGER Oct. 9, 1962 Filed July 6, 1959 INVENTOR. JACK E. ALLEN BY? m ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,057,590 PICTURE HANGER Jack E. Allen, 12634 NE. Russell, Portland, Oreg. Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,153 1 Claim. (Cl. 24829) This invention relates to improvements in picture hangers of the type adapted to penetrate a Wall structure.

A particular disadvantage of conventional picture hangers is that such hangers are not capable of supporting pictures or the like of any appreciable weight unless such hangers are of bulky and expensive construction. Furthermore, upon removal of conventional hangers from a plasterboard or similar wall it is not possible conveniently to repair the hole left in the wall without actually patching the said hole.

Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a picture hanger which is readily in sertable into a wall structure and which when withdrawn leaves only a minor perforation which may be readily repaired or sealed.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a picture hanger which is simple in structure and inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time is capable of supporting relatively heavy pictures or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a picture hanger of the type described having improved means engageable by the picture cord or wire.

A further object is to provide a picture hanger which offers a large hammering edge therefor to afi'ord means for inserting the hanger into a wall structure at a true and desired angle to such Wall structure.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a thin, angular strip of metal having a sharpened point on one end for penetrating a wall structure and having a pounding edge on the opposite end. Such hanger is of uniform width throughout a principal portion of its length and has a transverse picture cord receiving recess on the pounding end for positively holding such cord.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description. Various changes may be made in the details of construction Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present hanger inserted in a wall structure;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the hanger with the wall portion in which it is inserted shown in cross section;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the hanger;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a somewhat modified form of hanger.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURES 1-4, the present hanger comprises a body portion designated by the numeral 10. Such body portion is formed from a single strip of material, preferably sheet metal, and is bent along a longitudinal center line thereof to form a pair of wall portions 12. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the body portion is of uniform width through its length 3,057,590 Patented Oct. 9, .1962

except for a sharpened front end 14 which forms a point adapted to penetrate a wall structure.

As stated the hanger is preferably formed from sheet metal whereby there is provided a thin structure but one which is very rigid, such rigidity being formed by the angular relationship of the walls 12. A preferred angle between the walls is approximately degrees to form a device having a maximum degree of rigidity.

Disposed adjacent the rearward end of the body portion is a recess 16 for receiving the picture cord or Wire. This recess is pressed or stamped into the device for positively receiving and holding the picture cord in place but one from which said cord may be readily released if desired. It will be seen in FIGURE 3 that recess 16 extends the full width of the body portion so that an elongated supporting area is provided for the picture cord. In this regard, the angle between the walls 12 may be substantially similar to the angle formed in the picture cord when such cord is supported from a central point whereby the cord will engage the recess throughout substantially the full length of the recess to provide a maximum supporting area and prevent any possibility of damage to such cord. The uppermost portion of the recess 16 is preferably rounded as at 17, FIGURE 4, also to prevent any damage to the picture cord.

The rearward end of the device comprises a pounding edge 18, and in view of the elongated edge dimension of the walls 12 there is presented a positive engaging surface for a pounding tool so that the device may be inserted without the possibility of such tool slipping off and marring the wall surface. Also, such elongated pounding edge facilitates insertion of the device positively at the desired angle.

In FIGURE 5 there is illustrated a modified form of hanger 10A, which, similar to FIGURE 1, has angular side wall portions 12, a pointed end 14-, and a picture cord receiving recess 16. However, this structure has a reinforced pounding edge 18A formed by folding over or reversely bending a terminal end portion 20 of the body.

Therefore, it will be apparent that by the structure detailed above there is provided a device which by its combined features forms a rigid hanger capable of supporting heavy pictures even through the dimensions of the device are relatively small. By reason of the uniform width of the device throughout the principal portion of its length, a maximum holding area is provided in the wall, such feature being apparent in FIGURE 2.

Furthermore, by reason of its wall thinness, the puncture hole which it makes in the wall is of very thin dimension whereby when the device is withdrawn said puncture hole may be readily sealed. More particularly, when used on conventional plasterboard walls which have a fiber face sheet, the puncture hole may be completely sea-led by merely rubbing or bufling the area of the puncture. Additionally, as set forth, the contour of the recess 16 provides an elongated supporting area for the picture cord to prevent damage thereto.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A picture hanger adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal position in a wall structure comprising a thin sheet metal body, a tapered portion at one end of said body forming a sharpened point, said body portion having a longitudinal bend extending throughout the full length thereof, said longitudinal bend forming a ridge and a pair of downwardly divergent connected side walls adapted at their forward ends to be embedded in a wall structure and at their rearward ends to project from the wall and support a picture cord over the bend as well as on the outer downwardly divergent surfaces of the side walls, said divergent walls adjacent their rearward ends each having a transverse recess for receiving the picture cord, the inner surfaces of said divergent side walls comprising load supporting surfaces for the hanger when mounted in a wall, said side walls having a uniform width through- 4 out their length presenting a uniform, wide supporting area for the hanger in a wall structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 141,810 Nichols Aug. 12, 1873 988,620 Body Apr. 4, 1911 999,961 Colas Aug. 8, 1911 10 2,812,526 Porak et al Nov. 12, 1957 2,940,712 Lloyd-Young June 14, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 339,746 Germany Nov. 4, 1919 

